2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 96 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 17 Tiguan model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 4 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJul 17, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
Campaign 19V535000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkagesJun 24, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Campaign 16V464000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
96 reports, newest first.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 27, 2019
CLICKING NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. ERROR AIRBAG MESSAGE LATER APPEARED ALONG WITH AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT. FUNCTIONS IN STEERING WHEEL CEASE TO WORK INCLUDING THE HORN. NOTICED IN MOTION ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET.
Suspension, Electrical system, Structure, Jun 24, 2019, crash
THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN BY KEYLESS IGNITION AND THE FOB WAS REMOVED WHEN I ENTERED A BUILDING. AFTER 15 MINUTES IT ROLLED AWAY AND HIT A SCULPTURE AND ROLLED OVER. I AS THE DRIVER FAILED TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK OR SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE CAR AS SOMEONE WAS SPOTTED IN THE CAR AFTER IT FLIPPED OVER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE IMMOBILIZED REGARDLESS OF THE SHIFTER AS I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE EXITED THE VEHICLE. KEYLESS IGNITION SAFETY IN RELATION TO ROLLAWAYS IN THIS MODEL IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 15, 2019
'TAKATA RECALL' GAS FUEL GAGE WAS ON E WHEN I HAD JUST FUEL MY CAR THAT SAME DAY. NO RED LIGHT POPED UP. EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR GAS FUEL GAGE WOULD BE ON A DIFFERENT POSITION. COUPLE DAYS AFTER IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL
Steering, May 6, 2019
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING ONTO THE STREET WHEN THE STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AND I WAS UNABLE TO DIRECT MY CAR. TO AVOID BLOCKING TRAFFIC I HAD TO PULL INTO MY NEIGHBORS FRONT YARD. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND AROUND OTHER CARS WHEN I LOST CONTROL. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE.
Seats, Apr 29, 2019
MY VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2016 WITH 28,00 MILES DRIVER'S SEAT IS PEELING/CRACKING. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR ITS REPAIR. I PAID $3000 EXTRA FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY VIA THE DEALER OURISMAN OF BETHESDA-THEY INFORMED ME THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER IT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE VOLKSWAGEN'S CORPORATE OFFICE AND OURISMAN SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION.
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Apr 19, 2019
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. UPON PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED AN AIRBAG ERROR WARNING, HORN CEASED TO FUNCTION, AND ALL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING.
Engine, Feb 17, 2019
CODE P2015 PROBLEM IN INTAKE MANIFOLD. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND ARE REFUSING TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THE 2016 TIGUAN.
Steering, Jan 21, 2019
WHILE IN THE MIDDLE A A 5 WAY BOSTON INTERSECTION MY POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS UNABLE TO DIRECT MY CAR IN BUSY TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO REMAIN CALM AND TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS TO GET MYSELF OUT OF HARMS WAY, BUT WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY. THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATE, BUT THERE WERE NO NOISES, NO PREVIOUS ISSUES, AND NO WAY OTHER THAN LUCK FOR ME TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 4, 2018
I BOUGHT MY CAR JULY 6TH, 2018, GOT THE OIL CHANGED IN AUGUST 2018, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL OCTOBER 1,2018 WHEN THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND ABOUT 1MINUTE LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TURNING ONTO MY STREET IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE AUTO SHOP WHERE I'D RECENTLY GOTTEN MY OIL CHANGED. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT THE NEXT DAY BUT I LOOKED IN THE USERS MANUAL AND IT SAID TO DRIVE TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP. SO I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT AT 8:15 ON OCTOBER 3RD. I TOOK IT AND DROPPED IT OFF. I CALLED BEFORE THEY CLOSED TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY SUGGESTED A 100K MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND NEW BATTERY. THEY SAID THE BATTERY CAUSED THE SLOW START AND THEY CHECKED THE CODES AND IT SAID FAULT IN TIMING CORRELATION' WHICH WAS CAUSED BY LOW OIL PRESSURE AND THEY DIDN'T SEE OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. SO, I ASKED IF THE SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE WOULD FIX THE ISSUES AND IF THAT'S WHY THE SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON AND SHE TOLD ME YES! I THEN WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET FINAL CLARIFICATION OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AND SHE TOLD ME AFTER THE MAINTENANCE EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND HE JUST NEEDED TO TEST DRIVE IT AND I COULD COME BACK IN AN HOUR. SO SHE CALLED AFTER AN HOUR AND SAID THEY FINISHED AND I COULD GET MY CAR. I PAID THEM AND SHE TOLD ME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS AND I WOULD PROBABLY NEED REAR TIRES AND BRAKES AND AN OIL CHANGE AND THE 110K MILE SERVICE IN A YEAR OR 10K MILES- WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. I GOT IN THE CAR AND BEFORE I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT OUT, WENT BACK INSIDE AND TOLD HER AND SHE TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO PULL IT BACK AROUND AND I LEFT WITH MY MOM AND SHE CALLED HOURS LATER AND SAID I NEEDED A TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER. I ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T SEE THAT BEFORE AND SHE SAID THEY HADN'T LOOKED AT IT CLOSELY ENOUGH. THEN SAID SHE'LL CALL BACK TOMORROW
Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Aug 27, 2018
MY VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR VW SINCE 2011 AND THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A CRACKING NOISE THEN STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. AT THAT POINT THE STEERING BUTTON CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON.
Wheels, Engine, Jul 18, 2018
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAD TAKEN MY CAR FOR A BATTERY RECALL ISSUE AND WAS TOLD BY VW SERVICE PROVIDER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE PROBLEM. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE SIGN POPPED UP. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A WORSE CAR IN MY ENTIRE 20 YEARS.
Other or unspecified, Feb 3, 2018
USED ONLY -20F WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID BUT FLUID STILL FROZE IN RESERVOIR EVEN THOUGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES DID NOT FALL BELOW 0 DEGREES F. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WITH NEWER VEHICLES HE THOUGHT DUE TO THINNER PLASTIC USED FOR RESERVOIR OR LACK OF RESERVOIR INSULATION. THIS BECOMES A NHTS ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEED AND THE MIST FROM TRUCK TIRES HITS YOUR WINDSHIELD, YOU TRY TO USE YOUR WIPERS/FLUID TO WASH THE MUCK OFF BUT NO FLUID WILL SPRAY AND THE MUCK IS JUST SMEARED ACROSS YOUR WINDSHIELD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2018
WHEN PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A TEARING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. FOLLOWING THE NOISE, MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED PER THE OWNERS MANUAL AND WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT. I REALIZED LATER ON IN MY DRIVE THAT THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HORN ALSO DO NOT WORK. IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS ANOTHER DRIVER THAT DAY SWERVED INTO MY LANE WITHOUT CHECKING AND I HAD NO METHOD OF ALERTING THE DRIVER BECAUSE MY HORN DOESNT WORK NOR DO I HAVE THE PROTECTION OF AN AIRBAG. I GOT MY CAR DIAGNOSED WITH VW AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT CAUSED VW TO RECALL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES UP TO I BELIEVE THE 2012 MODEL YEAR. THIS RECALL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA UP TO I BELIEVE MODEL YEAR 2014 BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION, CLEARLY VW HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS PREVAILING ISSUE OR PROPERLY ENCOMPASSED ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AS MY MODEL IS 2016 AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Oct 26, 2017
THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS OR HAZARD LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. ALSO WIPERS TURN ON BY ITSELF OCASSIONALY.
Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2017
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR THE SUNROOF SPONTANESOUSLY SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AND THE CLOTH SHIELD WAS TUCKED AWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT AND DEAFENED MY EARS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I THOUGHT SOMEONE FIRED A GUN OR A NEARBY CAR GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT SINCE I FELT NO IMPACT OTHER THAN SOUND. BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING I WAS EXTREMELY STARTLED WHEN I LOOKED UP AND SAW AN OPEN WINDOW AND GLASS HAD FALLEN ALL OVER ME. IT HAD HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. I TRIED TO PULL OVER IN THE NEAREST EXIT AND WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND MANEUVERING OUT, HAD CUT MYSELF SEVERAL TIMES.
Wheels, Feb 23, 2017
SIDE WALL BUBBLING ON THE CONTINENTAL TIRES TWICE. TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. I BARELY SCRAPED A CURB AND THE TIRE HAD A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL THAT GREW EACH DAY. THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE A SMALL I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH TIRES ON ANY CAR EVER.
Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2016
AFTER GETTING IN TO THE DRIVERS SEAT ON 11/24/2016 I SHUT THE DOOR AND THE WINDOW SHATTERED ONTO ME.THERE WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WINDOW. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WAS PARKED ON A CITY STREET. I DO NOT HAVE AN INVOICE YET BECAUSE I DROPPED OFF MY CAR TODAY TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Other or unspecified, Nov 23, 2016
REAR DOOR THE REAR DOOR (LEFT) HAS A DEFECT. SINCE NEW IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED PROPERLY. LAST WEEK IT OPENED BY ITSELF WHILE RIDING OVER 45 MPH. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE DOOR INDICATOR WASN'T ON. NO INDICATION TO ME. EXCEPT FOR MY DAUGHTER SCREAMINGS. MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING NEXT TO THE DEFECTIVE DOOR WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT WAS SERVICED AT THE DELEARSHIP FOR THAT DOOR BUT IT STAYED THE SAME. IT DOESN'T CLOSE COMPLETELY.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Oct 7, 2016
SAFETY ISSUE! LEASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY. TWO INCIDENTS WHEN ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN IT IS DARK OR FOGGY OUT. HAVE BROUGHT IN TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER 2 TIMES FOR REPAIR AND HAPPENED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE WIPERS ALSO GO OFF AUTOMATICALLY YET IT IS NOT RAINING. THEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE HEADLIGHTS STAY ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF AND KILLS THE BATTERY.
Service brakes, Jun 27, 2016
BROUGHT 2016 TIGUAN LESS THAN 10 MONTHS, NOTICED SCRAPING NOISES WHEN BREAKING AT LOCAL SPEED. ALSO HEAR CLANKING NOISE OCCASIONALLY FROM BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. SENT CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER AND FOUND THE REAR ROTORS PITTED AND RUSTED. SERVICE CENTER JUST CLEAN THE SURFACE AND SUGGEST TO REPLACEMENT WHEN NOISE RETURN. CALL VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE OPEN A CASE. ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MY CAR HAS LOW MILEAGES, CAUSE RUST DEVELOPED AND SUGGESTED TO DRIVE MY CAR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE REASON BECAUSE I USE MY CAR AVERAGE 2 DAYS A WEEK. WHEN SENT IN FOR SERVICE, MY CARS HAD 3943 MILES WITH DRIVING WITH LESS THAN 10 MONTHS. ON AVERAGE DRIVE ABOUT 394 PER MONTH AND ~100 PER WEEK. I STRONGLY QUESTION ON WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL VOLKSWAGEN USE CAUSING THE PAD AND ROTORS RUST EASILY. PLUS VOLKSWAGEN STATED ROTORS AND PADS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, REPLACEMENT IS UNDER OWNER EXPENSE.
Seat belts, Equipment, May 16, 2016
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SEATBELT REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH ON MY NEW VW TIGUAN. THE FEMALE CONNECTOR THAT THE TONGUE OF THE BELT FITS INTO HAS BROKEN APART TWICE, REQUIRING AN ENTIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE BELT. THIS WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE WHEN THE LOOP OF MY POCKET BOOK CAUGHT ON IT. THE SECOND TIME IT BROKE, ALL I DID WAS MOVE THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO GET OUT.